As a teenager in suburban Australia in the 1970’s Philip Drummond struggled to see a place for himself in the narrow life choices that were on offer. Rejecting school and the path to a white collar job he left home worked, travelled and mixed in creative circles.

Supporting himself as a house painter Philip Drummond worked on developing his realist paintings working his way up to gallery shows and the solid position he now holds as a respected painter of still life works. With a distinctive dark palette and use of native flora Drummond’s works are classical and timeless.

Enjoy Getting to Know ….. Philip Drummond

When did you first feel the desire to be artistic and realize that you had talent?

I am a self taught artist, and was always drawing and painting from a young age. I travelled through India at 22 doing water colours which was my first time painting a continuous series of work.

What inspires you most?

I have always been interested in the natural world and painting still life lets me explore subjects and compositions as if on a small stage, being particularly interested in light.

Describe your studio…

My studio is in the town of Cessnock in the Hunter valley NSW. It consists of two 100 yr old buildings, one was a general store/co-op and the other a butchers. We renovated them back in 2010 from a derelict state into two magnificent studios with soaring ceilings and lots of natural light surrounding a central garden.

Describe your typical day of creating art…

I am constantly working on one or more paintings at any one time. Working in oils means the paintings need time to dry and I need time to contemplate the compositions making adjustments as I see fit.

What messages are you sending to the viewer of your art?

I want my work to be finely crafted and well resolved paintings that resonate with the viewer and connect them with the simple beauty I am trying to interpret.

What are you working on now?

At the moment I am working on an exhibition for Sydney which will consist of lush tropical inspired work mixed with some robust images of Australian native flora.

What do you love most about what you do?

I have been painting professionally for over 20 years and continue to love starting a new work and the challenges involved in getting something “just right”.

Where can you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself continuing to produce paintings for the rest of my life.

Artist Statement

New South Wales Artist Philip Drummond is a contemporary still life painter who’s interest in art has been with him his whole life. Whilst juggling paying jobs in the 80’s Philip spent his spare time painting, drawing and creating with passion. A self taught artist, Philip Drummond started exhibiting in the early 1990’s after a journey of self learning and discovery in his artistic field. His realist still life paintings infuse a quiet, reflective quality with simple compositions and subject matter, creating naturalism in his paintings that he is well recognised for.

Artist Statement

Born Melbourne 1960
Lives and works in the Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Self taught painter

“My work is more than just art imitating nature, I have tried to infuse a quiet, reflective quality into my paintings with simple compositions and humble subject matter. The challenge being to create naturalism without the work becoming too laboured. I work directly from the model, seeing and painting being an intrinsic part of the process. Capturing my subject within the intimacy of the studio before it wilts and dies, reinforcing the permanency of art over the mortal world. In an uncertain world obsessed with technological advancement there is something reassuring about following traditions and exploring the simplicity of natural forms.” Philip Drummond

Solo Exhibitions

1992 Tap Gallery, Sydney
1993 Mary Place Gallery, Sydney
1994-2004
- Barry Stern Gallery, Sydney
- Gallery 460, Gosford
- Maunsell Wickes, Sydney
- Smithy Gallery, Sydney
2007 Harrison Gallery, Glasgow
2008 Smithy Gallery, Glasgow
2009 Gosford Regional Art Gallery, Sydney
2010 Fairview Artspace, Mudgee NSW
2011 Maunsell Wickes, Sydney
2013 Maunsell Wickes, Sydney
2014 Maunsell Wickes, Sydney
2015 Maunsell Wickes, Sydney
2016
- Maunsell Wickes, Sydney
- “Life Stills” Cessnock Regional Art Gallery, NSW
- Gallows Gallery, Perth